Funding boost revitalises clubs

A FUNDING boost of more than $420,000 is set to revitalise six sporting clubs around the region.

Pittsworth Vikings Soccer Club was one of the biggest winners, gaining more than $115,000 in the joint state and local government funding announcement.

Club president Peter Robinson said the support would allow it to bring its junior sporting fields back from the brink.

"It was getting a bit desperate, as far as the fields go," he said.

"But now we're going to be able to develop the fields and even put in some irrigation."

The soccer club is not the only beneficiary; the fields are shared with the town's cricket and rugby league clubs.

"So we'll all get something out of it," Mr Robinson said.

At yesterday's Toowoomba Regional Council meeting, Mayor Peter Taylor said the "significant" funding boost represented a win for the council.

"In the past we have perhaps not done as well as far as funding for sports goes, but it appears we're doing much better," he said.

The recipient of the biggest grant was Toowoomba Cricket, with $120,000 provided towards installing lighting and supporting cricket and rugby league at Ernest Peak Park in Drayton.

Gold Park Sporting Club received more than $82,000 to construct new rugby union change rooms and amenities, while West Toowoomba Croquet Club was funded $44,000 to install competition lighting at Newtown Park.

Crow's Nest Tennis Club also received $20,625 to upgrade its lighting and Clifton Benchrest Shooters Union had a windfall of $37,000 to construct a rifle range at Clifton.